Wednesday, November 25, 2009

CPN-UML politburo meets

Kathmandu, 26 Nov: CPN-UML politburo meets Thursday after Maoists Wednesday allowed the passage of the annual budget 2009/10 after a five-month disruption of parliamentary proceedings.The meeting began earlier this week.Correction in the party statute which has been published after a Butwal general convention will be discussed, central committee member Pradip Geywali said.Corrections are being made to make committees and not individuals powerful in the party Gyewali said.The politburo will also discuss divisions in party as groups form parallel committees in districts.The meeting will discuss the political report of Chairman Jhalanath Khanal who said indiscipline was rife in the party.Khanal charged in the report the government led by the CPN-UML has failed to implement a declared policy to forge national consensus to draft a constitution and complete the peace processHe said the party was on a rightist trend moving away from Maoists.The report has been challenged by an anti-Maoist section in the ruling party led by KP Sharma Oli.Nepali Congress central committee also meeting Thursday and will discuss its recommendations for a federal state structure.Congress is the only major party that hasn’t submitted its suggestion.President Girija Prasad Koirala has proposed a structure linking the HImal, hills and terai like in the panchayat.nnnn

Chinese assistance for Nepal

Kathmandu, 26 Nov: China has agreed to extend financial assistance for constructing Nepal’s consulate general office at Lhasa, Tibet, upon Nepal’s request, The Kathmandu Post reports.According to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala, the Chinese side is positive about Nepal’s request and will provide phase-wise assistance for the multi-million dollar project.“China has allocated a million RMB (approx Rs 20.4 nillion) for construction of the consulate building.“This assistance will be released from 2010,” Nagendra Upadhaya, Nepal’s Consul General of Lhasa told the Post.The Chinese side has agreed to provide 3 million RMB (Rs 30.6 million) as food assistance annually from this year.China has also pledged military assistance worth Rs 100 million. The military assistance will include non-lethal weapons, logistics support, training for army officials and communications equipment.China is positive about providing duty-free access to 497 Nepali goods. For the first time, the Tibetans side also made its commitment to build schools in bordering areas, launch income generation schemes and provide scholarships to Nepali students.(A 10-member Tibetan delegation led by Hao Peng, deputy executive vice-chairman of Tibet, is currently on a goodwill visit of Nepal.)Nnnn

Appointments at PADT

Kathmandu, 26 Nov: Prabeshman Bhandari, Sita Pant and Sunil Kumar Bamsal have been appointed members of the governing council of Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT)The government appointed the trio.nnnn

MEDIA GOOGLE

“Madhav Nepal is liked by some Indian bureaucrats; they want this government to continue; but leaders understand this government is unsuccessful”

(MJF Chairman Upendra Yadav, Naya Patrika, 26 Nov.)

‘They declare Congress as the main even as after bringing the arms wielding Maoists to the constituent assembly. But the president [Girija] is soft towards them. That’s why party leaders and workers have started presenting differing views.”

(Nepali Congress Acting President Sushil Koirala, Rajdhani, 26 Nov.)

“Prime Minister’s removal at this point of time will squarely affect the constitution drafting and the country won’t be able to have its new constitution.”